I believe some of you might have this thought like, “If only I could capture this moment with colors!” When you are suddenly caught by this feeling, soft pastels are one of the materials that can answer the desire. 

Without blending with mediums or water like oil paints or watercolors, you can grab them immediately and trace your emotions on paper, and there is no need to wait for drying time.

From the fleeting shimmer of light to the atmospheric dust dissolving into the air, color pastels allow you to intuitively seize the moment. This directness makes them an ideal medium for everyone from complete beginners to professional artists.

In this article, we explore Gondola Pastel, created by Japan's only specialized soft pastel manufacturer. We will look into their elegant color palette, tips for enhancing your expression and the secrets to preserving your Japanese pastel art for years to come.

Gondola Pastel: The Legacy of Japan’s First Soft Pastel

Manufactured by OHKAN KAGAKU KOGYOSYO, Gondola Pastels hold the distinction of being the first Japanese soft pastel, established in 1919. For over a century, master artisans in their Kyoto studio have upheld traditional manufacturing methods, refining their techniques to perfection.

Its greatest strength lies in its exceptional color quick-sketching capability. With no need for water, brushes or palettes, and zero drying time required, you can intuitively select a color from the rich collection and begin drawing immediately.

From sharp line drawings using the edges to bold color coverage using the flat sides, Gondola Pastel offers total creative freedom. With this ability to respond to both delicate touches and soft strokes, it is a well-designed tool to capture the nuances of light and shadow in the Japanese landscape.

A 242-Color Palette Inspired by the Japanese Landscape

Japan is surrounded by the sea, giving rise to a humid climate with four distinct seasons and delicate gradations of distant mountains melting into a haze. To express this graceful ambience, Gondola Pastels feature a 242-color lineup to capture the soft light and subtle landscapes created by this unique Japanese scenery.

What makes this set so special is its exquisite color scheme. From primary colors to intermediate tones, the design brings out the maximum beauty of carefully selected pigments. Achromatic colors are limited strictly to black and white, while the greys in this collection are consciously imbued with slight tints in different color shades.

This reflects the traditional Japanese aesthetic of Hyakunezumi (literally translated as one-hundred shades of grays, a phrase that describes an immense variety of subtle, muted gray tones), a cultural heritage that cherishes the subtle nuances of neutral tones. This design choice allows artists to depict the deep, emotional quality of Japanese nature that standard achromatic greys simply cannot achieve.

Artist-Grade Quality that Empowers Creative Freedom

Professional artists favor Gondola Pastels for their rigorous material selection and manufacturing processes that maintain the pigment's inherent brilliance.

From primary hues to subtle intermediate tones, these pastels offer high-purity coloration and a texture that feels like an extension of your own fingertips. Moreover, there’s a reason behind the design of the 2cm size, which is shorter than most standardized Western brands. This compact form increases durability and allows for versatile strokes from any angle.

Furthermore, the brand’s commitment to safety and continuous improvement has earned Gondola Pastels high acclaim from experts both in Japan and internationally.

Basic of pastels

【Art Materials Used】

Soft Pastel: Gondola Pastel No. 625 (Blue) /No. 314 (Yellow)

Oil Pastel:Sennelier Oil Pastel No. 237 (Blue) / No. 19 (Yellow)

Substrate: Bamboo Washi Paper for Watercolor

Here, let's compare the binders used in different types of pastels. There are various types of pastels according to the ingredients.

While most consist of pigment, a filler (like calcium carbonate) and a binder, the specific characteristics depend heavily on the type and ratio of that binder. This composition determines how the pastel adheres to the paper and the texture it creates.

We hope it helps you choose the right medium for your artwork.

Comparing Soft and Oil Pastels

Dry Pastel (Soft & Hard)

Dry pastels are made by using a minimum amount of water-soluble binder. Depending on the binder ratio, they are categorized as "soft" (soft texture) or "hard" (higher density). For example, Gondola Pastels are classified as soft pastels.

Soft pastels are known for their smooth spreadability and fine, soft particles. Because they don't adhere strongly to the paper on their own, so you have more freedom to work with them, such as lifting color or correcting mistakes with a kneaded eraser. However, this also means a fixative is needed for protecting your finished work from shedding or smudging.

Oil Pastel

Oil pastels are created by mixing pigment with non-drying oil and wax.

Due to the oil content, the pigment adheres firmly to the substrate. Oil pastel drawing offers strong adhesion, meaning it is less likely to create accidental smudges. 

Although oil pastels can be applied to a variety of surfaces beyond paper, unlike soft pastels, they are difficult to remove once applied, not even with a kneaded eraser. Oil pastels excel at creating heavy, impasto-like textures similar to oil painting.

Best Surfaces and Fixatives

How to Bring Out the Richness of Soft Pastels

Because soft pastels turn to powder upon application, papers with a textured surface, such as cold press watercolor paper or rough-textured paper, are ideal for holding the pigment and maximizing color richness.

Smoother papers such as hot press are excellent for delicate blending and gradients, but if the surface is too slick, the pastel may not adhere well. Choosing the right paper texture is crucial for your intended technique.

Beyond Western watercolor papers, Japanese washi paper offers a distinctive range of textures depending on its fiber. For example, kōzo (mulberry) papers tend toward a softer, more absorbent surface, while bamboo washi paper can feel comparatively smooth. pigiment.live has selected the following versatile papers from our collection. We encourage you to experiment to discover your unique style.

Bamboo Washi Paper (for Watercolor) 

Bamboo Washi Paper features a medium-fine texture that allows for smooth application and vibrant color.

Made from strong, flexible bamboo fibers, its 250g/m² weight offers the durability needed for professional work.

The surface is treated with sizing, which prevents the fibers from lifting or pilling even when rubbed vigorously during blending. It combines the soft, organic feel of traditional washi paper with the resilience required for modern techniques.

Applications and Mixed Media

You can create diverse textures by varying your application of soft pastels, such as using the edge for lines, the side for rough texture, or blending colors with your fingers, a brush or a sponge.

Furthermore, understanding the layering nature of color pastels and combining them with watercolors or other media opens up a whole new realm of expression, allowing you to fully enjoy the true charm of Gondola Pastels.

Unlike paints, which can be mixed on a palette, pastels reveal entirely new textures and tones through a layering technique on paper. The sequence of colors, the subtle shifts in pressure and the speed of your strokes, these delicate layers build a beauty of infinite color.

Basic Techniques for Coloring

Delicate Blending and Layering

【Art Materials Used】

Gondola Pastel: (from left to right) No. 403, 314, 426

Substrate: Bamboo Washi Paper for Watercolor

Because Gondola Pastel particles are exceptionally fine, a light touch is all that's needed to create airy, delicate blends. Layering allows you to build depth and by gently applying a new color over an existing one, the bottom layer shows through the gaps, creating optical mixtures and rich blends.

Tip: Apply a fixative between layers to build up more color without muddying the surface.

Let’s take a look at these gradation and layering techniques in the sample images below.

From top to bottom, it reads as follows: 

Beautiful, vibrant colors with a soft, smooth finish

• Blending with water for watercolor-like effects

• The perfect companion for sketching

• Suitable for full-scale artistic painting as well

• Draw as you see, color as you feel!

Painting with Water

Since it is made with a water-soluble binder, Gondola Pastels can be easily blended or blurred like watercolors simply by touching with a wet brush.

More Ideas of Using Soft Pastels

Combining soft pastels with water-based media is a favorite technique among many professionals.

Watercolors & Gondola Pastel

【Art Materials Used】

Gondola Pastel: No. 304

Watercolor: No. 534 Viridian / No. 543 Ultramarine Green

Substrate: Bamboo Washi Paper for Watercolor

First, apply a base color with watercolors across the surface. Once dry, use a Gondola Pastel to add fine details and highlights. This creates layered gradients that make the most of the underlying colors, while producing a beautiful contrast between the soft bleeds of watercolor and the dry, powdery texture of pastels.

Acrylic Paints & Gondola Pastel

【Art Materials Used】

Gondola Pastel: No. 422 (Blue) / No. 125 (Cream)

Acrylic Paint: Mauve (Matsuda Oil Color)

Primer / Medium: Gesso S

Substrate: Bamboo Washi Paper for Watercolor

Use acrylics or gesso to create a rough textured ground. Once dry, Gondola Pastel can be applied on top of it.

The pastel particles catch on the rough acrylic surface, resulting in incredibly vibrant color and a well-textured stroke.

Protection and Fixing Methods

How to Protect Your Work

Soft pastels have no binding power to stay on paper, as the powder simply rests on the surface.

Because of this, even a light touch can cause the color to smudge or rub off. Even when using a fixative, it cannot be completely set.

During creation and storage, please cover the surface with protective paper (such as glassine paper or copy paper) to prevent friction with other objects. Once the artwork is complete, apply a fixative properly. For exhibition or long-term preservation, framing the piece under glass or acrylic is recommended for protection.

How to Apply Fixative

Spray from a distance of 30 to 40 cm. Apply thin layers, allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next. This builds a firm protective coating that guards the pastel's texture and color while preventing shedding.

*Please note:

Applying too much fixative at once can cause the pastel particles to absorb the liquid, darkening the colors and dulling the vibrancy. Therefore, always remember to apply thin layers multiple times instead. 

Storing Your Gondola Pastels

Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause pigments to fade. Always keep the box lid closed and store your pastels in a cool, dark place. Protecting the raw materials ensures that your future Japanese pastel art remains vibrant.

Expanding Your Creative Horizons

Sketching and Drawing

Gondola Pastels require minimal preparation and cleanup, making them easy to pull out and use on the go, whether traveling or working outdoors. They are ideal for anyone who wants to start painting intuitively or whenever inspiration strikes.

For professional artists as well, Gondola Pastels have long been valued for esquisse (preliminary studies), drawings and color planning ahead of final works. The ability to capture fleeting light and color directly on paper, without the step of squeezing paint onto a palette, is a strength unique to pastels.

pigiment.live offers Gondola Pastel sets in 48, 100, 150, and the full 242-color lineup, a palette that makes it possible to depict all the scenery in Japan. These wide color palettes allow you to express subtle changes of hue that cannot be achieved by color mixing alone when working on serious artwork.

We hope that having such rich colors will inspire and sharpen an artist's sensitivity, which deepens creative expression. We also invite you to experience this world of elegant, harmonious colors created through delicate layering, and enjoy the journey of nurturing your color intuition alongside Gondola Pastels.

References
OHKAN KAGAKU KOGYOSYO
GONDOLA PASTEL

Editor & Writer

Natsuko Shiraishi

Graduated from the Textile Design at Tama Art University. She is an artist who mainly works with original Washi paper and calligraphy.

Favorite matière: Paper, dynamic moves of wood fiber

Graduated from the Textile Design at Tama Art University. She is an artist who mainly works with original Washi paper and calligraphy.

Favorite matière: Paper, dynamic moves of wood fiber

pigiment.live

PIGMENT ARTICLES delivers a wide variety of information about art. You’ll find instructions on traditional painting techniques, art materials, and the latest updates on products, workshops, and events.
We invite you to explore our articles for creative inspiration and to deepen your knowledge.

PIGMENT ARTICLES delivers a wide variety of information about art. You’ll find instructions on traditional painting techniques, art materials, and the latest updates on products, workshops, and events.
We invite you to explore our articles for creative inspiration and to deepen your knowledge.

Translator

Atsumi Okano

Completed her post-baccalaureate program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Painting and Drawing.
While working with PIGMENT ARTICLES mainly as a translator, she also creates paintings and installations with translucent materials as an artist.

Favorite matière: Interaction of intentionality and coincidence created by the layers of transparent materials and colors.

Completed her post-baccalaureate program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Painting and Drawing.
While working with PIGMENT ARTICLES mainly as a translator, she also creates paintings and installations with translucent materials as an artist.

Favorite matière: Interaction of intentionality and coincidence created by the layers of transparent materials and colors.

Translator

Nelson Hor Ee Herng

Graduated with a BFA in Japanese painting from Tama Art University. Using paintings, embroideries and installations to document issues related to our modern society.
Favorite material: Mineral pigments used by ancient people to paint murals.

Graduated with a BFA in Japanese painting from Tama Art University. Using paintings, embroideries and installations to document issues related to our modern society.
Favorite material: Mineral pigments used by ancient people to paint murals.